ARK Reflections IAS Celebrates 25 UPSC Ranks
ARK Reflections IAS Academy, Hyderabad, proudly announces the success of 25 students in the UPSC CSE 2024, including five in the top 100 ranks. With standout performers like Banna Venkatesh, Ravula Jayasimha Reddy (AIR 46), and Preethi A C (AIR 263), the academy's commitment to nurturing civil servants is evident.
Chairman Gummi Ram Reddy and Director Madhu Sudhan Reddy aim to produce 100 IAS/IPS officers by 2030. At a press conference, top rankers credited personalised mentorship and academy support for their success. ARK Reflections continues to inspire aspirants nationwide through its focused guidance and excellence.
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dealing with entrance exam pressure: Here's a survival guide for you
First attempt myth Prep burnout What toppers do differently Parenting through pressure Alternate roads Resilient systems, not routine You're not alone SHOULD YOU TAKE A DROP YEAR? Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the UPSC Civil Services exam . Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. More than 2 lakh doctors compete in NEETPG to get into a handful of desirable MD/MS programs. Add to that state PSCs, GATE, CLAT, CUET, RBI Grade B, IBPS/ SBI, SSC, international exams including GRE/ GMAT/TOEFL and the massive funnel of CUET-UG, JEE, NEET-UG, and it becomes clear. India isn't just a nation of exam-takers, but is in the midst of an exam epidemic. You are competing not just with others, but with time, personal circumstances and limits. Here's your survival guide to this pressure media glorifies that 'first-attempt topper' with stories of those who cleared UPSC at 22 or got into AIIMS right after Class 12. However, behind the scenes, many successful aspirants in exams like NEET-PG , CAT, or GATE, are second- or third-time candidates. They didn't fail; they improved. This cultural obsession with cracking it in 'one clean shot' creates pressure and breeds fear. What's the truth? Persistence matters more than prestige. Equally successful is the candidate who jumps from 94 to 99 percentile in CAT in his second attempt, or one who shifts from a peripheral MD to a prestigious institution in NEET-PG after a drop year. Failure is just another is not a fancy word, but a lived-out reality. Consider GATE aspirants working in jobs, NEET-PG doctor aspirants fresh out of intense internships, or UPSC hopefuls deep into their third year of preparation. You may face chronic fatigue, anxiety, isolation, social comparison and even depression. Watch out for signs of irritability, emotional numbness, fear of falling behind, and an inability to enjoy other experiences. Advanced burnout stages may include social withdrawal and extreme swings between manic work and total shutdown. The first step to recovery is becoming self-aware and acknowledging that burnout isn't a weakness, but a warning. Structure breaks to reconnect with peers. Consider therapy or speak with your mentor. As parents, resist the urge to push when your child needs in UPSC, CAT, and GATE rely on time-tested systems. They analyse every mock test, tagging errors and noting improvement areas. They prioritise deep revision over acquiring new material every week. They create repeatable daily schedules and create peer groups for mutual accountability. They build small rituals like early morning walks, art breaks, or journaling to manage stress. One NEET-PG topper handwrote old question papers every weekend to build memory muscle. A UPSC AIR 12 capped study at seven focused hours a day because intensity matters more than duration. CAT toppers often peak by running three timed mocks a week, reviewing each like a professional athlete analyses game footage. The common secret? No panic. Only parents, the exam season becomes an invisible personal test. Your desire to help often turns into constant monitoring, comparisons with neighbours, worrying about coaching fees or your return on investment. This is counter-productive. Focus on effort, not ranks and scores. Praise consistency and resilience, not perfection. Be concerned about your child's well-being and his schedule. Offer a non-judgmental space where your child can safely vent without fear of conflict. Finally, look for red flags, including change in sleep, mood swings, social withdrawal, or excessive screen use, which could indicate breakdowns. Remind your child that worth is not tied to GATE candidate will not get into an IIT, nor will every NEET aspirant become a surgeon. Many will join public sector jobs, build careers in public policy, consulting, or academia after UPSC, GATE or RBI prep. Others will switch to management via CAT after NEET or engineering, or succeed in startups, freelancing, or content creation using the same self-discipline and focus. The transferable skills developed during preparation— grit, research ability and structured thinking—are solid assets for any career. Success in life is never linear and Plan A can evolve into a solid Plan candidates may differ in technique, but all have built resilient systems. Think beyond total hours and consider sustainability. Choose to sleep for a minimum of seven hours over all-night study marathons. Study in 90-minute focused periods, followed by a 10-15-minute break. Walk, cycle or stretch for at least 20 minutes each day to reset your brain. Maintain a digital boundary by either switching off devices or using apps like Forest or StayFocusd. Finally, build your identity beyond your exam and recognise that you are not just a 'future IAS officer' or 'future doctor'. Tying your self-image to a test result is dangerous and you're reading this and nodding in exhaustion, know this—you're not weak. You're part of a system that tests more than academic skills. It tests patience, perspective, and mental strength. You're not alone. Over 35 lakh aspirants across UPSC, NEET, CAT and other exams feel the same fear, the same hope. What matters is how you prepare, not just for the exam, but for life beyond year, thousands of aspirants wonder whether they should take a drop year and retake the exams. Question yourself: Are you taking a drop year because you know you can do better, or due to peer pressure, societal prestige, or sunk costs? An honest internal reason fuels your motivation across the long prep you fail in your attempt because of less effort or motivation, poor conceptual understanding, time mismanagement, or other distractions? A drop year makes sense only if you know why you failed and how to fix it. Otherwise, it is another 12 months down the your past strategies. Start with streamlining your material, scheduling mock tests, and planning revision cycles. Add buffer months before the exam dates. Whether you want to move from CAT 92 to 98 percentile or crack UPSC Mains, your planning is everything.A drop year is not free. Can you afford coaching, housing, or living expenses? Are you emotionally prepared to go through another high-pressure cycle? Discuss frankly with family and mentors to gauge their support, both financially and you create a parallel journey—through freelancing, part-time work, internships, or other certifications? This journey will hold up your confidence, build your CV, and generate future career alternatives. Make your drop year an investment, not a writer is a UPSC (NDA) AIR 1, a two-time CAT 100 percentiler and a mentor to competitive exam aspirants.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Dealing with entrance exam pressure: Here's a survival guide for you
Getty Images Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the UPSC Civil Services exam. Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. More than 2 lakh doctors compete in NEETPG to get into a handful of desirable MD/MS programs. Add to that state PSCs, GATE, CLAT, CUET, RBI Grade B, IBPS/ SBI, SSC, international exams including GRE/ GMAT/TOEFL and the massive funnel of CUET-UG, JEE, NEET-UG, and it becomes clear. India isn't just a nation of exam-takers, but is in the midst of an exam epidemic. You are competing not just with others, but with time, personal circumstances and limits. Here's your survival guide to this pressure cooker. Popular media glorifies that 'first-attempt topper' with stories of those who cleared UPSC at 22 or got into AIIMS right after Class 12. However, behind the scenes, many successful aspirants in exams like NEET-PG, CAT, or GATE, are second- or third-time candidates. They didn't fail; they improved. This cultural obsession with cracking it in 'one clean shot' creates pressure and breeds fear. What's the truth? Persistence matters more than prestige. Equally successful is the candidate who jumps from 94 to 99 percentile in CAT in his second attempt, or one who shifts from a peripheral MD to a prestigious institution in NEET-PG after a drop year. Failure is just another hurdle. Prep burnout Burnout is not a fancy word, but a lived-out reality. Consider GATE aspirants working in jobs, NEET-PG doctor aspirants fresh out of intense internships, or UPSC hopefuls deep into their third year of preparation. You may face chronic fatigue, anxiety, isolation, social comparison and even depression. Watch out for signs of irritability, emotional numbness, fear of falling behind, and an inability to enjoy other experiences. Advanced burnout stages may include social withdrawal and extreme swings between manic work and total shutdown. The first step to recovery is becoming self-aware and acknowledging that burnout isn't a weakness, but a warning. Structure breaks to reconnect with peers. Consider therapy or speak with your mentor. As parents, resist the urge to push when your child needs recovery. What toppers do differently Toppers in UPSC, CAT, and GATE rely on time-tested systems. They analyse every mock test, tagging errors and noting improvement areas. They prioritise deep revision over acquiring new material every week. They create repeatable daily schedules and create peer groups for mutual accountability. They build small rituals like early morning walks, art breaks, or journaling to manage stress. One NEET-PG topper handwrote old question papers every weekend to build memory muscle. A UPSC AIR 12 capped study at seven focused hours a day because intensity matters more than duration. CAT toppers often peak by running three timed mocks a week, reviewing each like a professional athlete analyses game footage. The common secret? No panic. Only habits. Parenting through pressure For parents, the exam season becomes an invisible personal test. Your desire to help often turns into constant monitoring, comparisons with neighbours, worrying about coaching fees or your return on investment. This is counter-productive. Focus on effort, not ranks and scores. Praise consistency and resilience, not perfection. Be concerned about your child's well-being and his schedule. Offer a non-judgmental space where your child can safely vent without fear of conflict. Finally, look for red flags, including change in sleep, mood swings, social withdrawal, or excessive screen use, which could indicate breakdowns. Remind your child that worth is not tied to rank. Alternate roads Every GATE candidate will not get into an IIT, nor will every NEET aspirant become a surgeon. Many will join public sector jobs, build careers in public policy, consulting, or academia after UPSC, GATE or RBI prep. Others will switch to management via CAT after NEET or engineering, or succeed in startups, freelancing, or content creation using the same self-discipline and focus. The transferable skills developed during preparation— grit, research ability and structured thinking—are solid assets for any career. Success in life is never linear and Plan A can evolve into a solid Plan B. Resilient systems, not routine Successful candidates may differ in technique, but all have built resilient systems. Think beyond total hours and consider sustainability. Choose to sleep for a minimum of seven hours over all-night study marathons. Study in 90-minute focused periods, followed by a 10-15-minute break. Walk, cycle or stretch for at least 20 minutes each day to reset your brain. Maintain a digital boundary by either switching off devices or using apps like Forest or StayFocusd. Finally, build your identity beyond your exam and recognise that you are not just a 'future IAS officer' or 'future doctor'. Tying your self-image to a test result is dangerous and unnecessary. You're not alone If you're reading this and nodding in exhaustion, know this—you're not weak. You're part of a system that tests more than academic skills. It tests patience, perspective, and mental strength. You're not alone. Over 35 lakh aspirants across UPSC, NEET, CAT and other exams feel the same fear, the same hope. What matters is how you prepare, not just for the exam, but for life beyond it. 1. CHECK 'WHY'Every year, thousands of aspirants wonder whether they should take a drop year and retake the exams. Question yourself: Are you taking a drop year because you know you can do better, or due to peer pressure, societal prestige, or sunk costs? An honest internal reason fuels your motivation across the long prep cycle. 2. REFLECT ON MISTAKES Did you fail in your attempt because of less effort or motivation, poor conceptual understanding, time mismanagement, or other distractions? A drop year makes sense only if you know why you failed and how to fix it. Otherwise, it is another 12 months down the drain. 3. PLAN THE YEAR Avoid your past strategies. Start with streamlining your material, scheduling mock tests, and planning revision cycles. Add buffer months before the exam dates. Whether you want to move from CAT 92 to 98 percentile or crack UPSC Mains, your planning is everything. TIME, MONEY AND EMOTION A drop year is not free. Can you afford coaching, housing, or living expenses? Are you emotionally prepared to go through another high-pressure cycle? Discuss frankly with family and mentors to gauge their support, both financially and psychologically. 5.A LIFE OUTSIDE Can you create a parallel journey—through freelancing, part-time work, internships, or other certifications? This journey will hold up your confidence, build your CV, and generate future career alternatives. Make your drop year an investment, not a gamble. The writer is a UPSC (NDA) AIR 1, a two-time CAT 100 percentiler and a mentor to competitive exam aspirants. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of No trending terms available.
India.com
16 hours ago
- India.com
Studied MBBS and MD, topped Haryana Civil Services, got married, cracked UPSC twice while raising a kid, her AIR was..., she is...
The UPSC exam is often touted as the most difficult competitive exam in India. The Union Public Service Commission holds the exam once a year, and lakhs of candidates from various academic and professional backgrounds enroll each year in pursuit of IAS, IPS, IFS, and other prestigious services. Despite the great competition and unfathomable effort that candidates exert towards UPSC preparation, many candidates take a leap of faith and chase this dream while juggling a job, family, and other commitments. Dr. Pragati Verma, who obtained AIR 355 for UPSC 2023, is one of these impressive individuals, with a great story to tell, demonstrating if you are sufficiently dedicated and have the right mindset, you can achieve even the biggest goals, regardless of circumstances. What makes her accomplishment even more outstanding is that she did this while working at a hospital and preparing for her exams, demonstrating her ability to handle both work responsibilities and intense preparation efforts. Dr. Pragati Verma, who achieved All India Rank(AIR) 355 in the UPSC 2023 examination, is from Meham sub-division in the Rohtak district of Haryana. Speaking about her educational qualification, Pragati finished her schooling from Meham, did MBBS from PGIMS Rohtak, and pursued MD in Radiodiagnosis at PGIMER Chandigarh. After her postgraduation, she worked as a Senior Resident at AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh for one year. After one year, she married Dr. Atul Verma. The couple is blessed with a son, named Rajvardhan Verma. After marriage, she worked in private and corporate hospitals in Kurukshetra as a Radiology Consultant while simultaneously preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. As per a report of News18 Hindi, Dr. Pragati Verma started her UPSC preparation in May 2021 and subsequently appeared for the 2021 Preliminary exam a few months later. However, she narrowly missed qualifying by approximately 10 marks. She did not let it stop her from repeatedly strategizing her preparation and in her second attempt, passed Prelims, Mains, Interview, and got an All India Rank of 740. She belonged to the OBC category. She obtained 756 marks in the written examination and 171 marks in the personality test. Overall, she secured 927 marks in the UPSC Civil Services(Main) Examination, 2022. Her All India Rank(AIR) was 740. With an aim to be in the IAS, she sat for the UPSC 2023 exam and got AIR 355. She obtained 787 marks in the written examination and 175 marks in the personality test. Overall, she secured 962 marks in the UPSC Civil Services(Main) Examination, 2023. Her All India Rank(AIR) was 355. In 2023, Dr Pragati Verma obtained 2nd rank in the Haryana Civil Services (HCS), also securing All India Rank 740 in UPSC 2022-23. After her success in HCS, she joined the service and worked in the Ambala Division as an Officer on Special Duty to the Commissioner. According to OdishaTV, at the age of 31 and as a mother to a three-year-old son, Rani secured 355th rank in the UPSC exam, improving her performance from her previous attempt. With this achievement, she is now set to become an IAS officer. Dr Pragati Verma comes from a family with a strong tradition of public service. Her father is a primary teacher, while her mother works in the health department. For added context, her father-in-law, R.C. Verma, is a retired IAS officer and served as Deputy Commissioner in four districts of Haryana, including Bhiwani, Palwal, Nuh, and Rewari.
